Peaceful coexistence has long been problematic between adherents of the world's major religions, with many followers believing that an escalating clash of civilizations or even an apocalyptic confrontation is inevitable—a possibility made all the more likely with the advent of weapons that could destroy the world. Here the Dalai Lama shares his hopeful yet realistic views on how humanity must step into the future, explaining that the challenges of globalization can also move us in another direction, to a higher plane where nations, cultures, and individuals connect through their shared human nature. He explains how differences between religions can be genuinely appreciated instead of becoming sources of conflict.